signa ferre, tollere

Etymology:

• signa = standards of a maniple, cohort, or legion. Since Marius' time the signum of a legion was an eagle, those of the maniples different animals, wolf, horse, etc. In the camp the standards were fixed in the ground, in action they were carried in the front rank, hence several phrases—signa convellere, tollere, efferre, to break up camp; signa proferre, promovere, to advance in battle-order; signa inferre, to attack; signa conferre, to come to close quarters; signa statuere, to halt; signa convertere, to change one's route; signa referre, to retire; signa relinquere, to desert, etc.